Bristol Rovers ─ The Official Definitive History

BRISTOL ROVERS: THE OFFICIAL HISTORY is an up-to-date and definitive historical record of Bristol Rovers Football Club, relating the story of the club from its origins in 1883, through the glory years and tougher times, to where it is today. Emphasis is placed on why the club started, who the figureheads of the club were at various points in its long history, how two World Wars were survived and how the club lived through exile in Bath to return to its home patch. No football club simply starts, and no club can be where it is today without a wealth of stories and a plethora of anecdotal incidents. Stephen Byrne’s informative text illustrates how all this came to pass, while Mike Jay’s carefully constructed seasonal charts add statistical weight to the history. The book also features a full-colour picture section, bringing to life the many players, fans, trials and triumphs of this great club.

Stephen Byrne has been a Rovers supporter since watching a goalless draw against Orient in November 1974. He co-wrote with Mike Jay Pirates in Profile, published in 1994 and Bristol Rovers: The Definitive History, which appeared in 2003 and wrote Rovers' On This Day and Miscellany which were published in 2009 and 2010 respectively; he also writes for the club's award-winning match-day programme. Mike Jay, born in Eastville, Bristol, has lived and worked in Bristol all his life and has followed the fortunes of Rovers since 1967. Mike was Rover's programme editor from 1987 to 1993. He has written for the match-day programme from 1977 to date and is the Club's official historian. He has had several books published on the Club, most notably Bristol Rovers: The Definitive History 1883-2003 and Pirates in Profile, a who's who of every Rovers player from 1920-1994.